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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

CHAPTER TWENTY:
AN EMPTY TOMB AND THREE APPEARANCES

[“Blessed Readers”]
Key Word: Believe

John 20:1-2 – “They Have Taken Him!”

JN20:1 On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene arrived early in morning 1049 darkness to the memorial tomb, and she saw that the stone had been removed from the memorial tomb.

1049	Mary Magdalene arrived early in morning: Compare the other accounts of this moment at Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, and Luke 24:1. John mentions only Mary as his focus. This may not mean the other women were also somewhere present, or on their way to the tomb.

JN20:2 And so she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus preferred, and she said to them: “They removed the Master from the memorial tomb, and we have no idea where they put him.” 1050

1050	We have no idea where they put him: Mary uses “we” indicating the other women were also involved in agreement with the other Gospels.

John 20:3-10 – Checking the Tomb

JN20:3 So, Peter and the other disciple left and headed for the memorial tomb. JN20:4 Now the two were running together, but the other disciple ran ahead 1051 more quickly than Peter and he arrived first at the memorial tomb.

1051	The other disciple ran ahead: John was a faster runner.

JN20:5 Now, having stooped to look inside, he saw bandages lying there. Of course, he did not enter. JN20:6 Then Simon Peter arrived behind him, and he entered into the memorial tomb. 1052 He also saw the bandages.

1052	He entered into the memorial tomb: Peter does not hesitate, but enters the dim tomb, the sun beginning to rise on this lovely morning. Though such tombs may be dank, the scent of the garden flowers, and the odor of the perfumed spices must have made for a pleasant smell.

JN20:7 Now the facial napkin, 1053 which had been over the head of Jesus, was lying by itself and not with the bandages that had been rolled up into one place. 1054

1053	Facial napkin: Or, napkin, cloth. Coins were sometimes placed on the eyes to keep them closed and the head wrapped in such a way to keep the mouth closed and the nostrils covered.

1054	The bandages that had been rolled up into one place: Many think these the famous Shroud of Turin and the debate continues to this day.

JN20:8 Finally, the other disciple who arrived first entered the memorial tomb, and he saw and believed. 1055

1055	He saw and believed: This may indicate John was the first of the apostles to actually believe in the Risen Lord.

JN20:9 However, they did not yet realize that from Scripture 1056 it was necessary Jesus be resurrected from the dead.

1056	They did not yet realize that from Scripture: This would come in a flood in the days ahead. [Luke 24:25-27, 32, 45, 46] And after the Pentecostal out-pouring of Pneuma Peter is inspired in his use of these Scriptures regarding the resurrection of Christ. [Acts 2:30-36]

JN20:10 So now the disciples left by themselves.

John 20:11-18 – “I Am Ascend to My God”

JN20:11 However, Mary stayed around the memorial tomb weeping. Then, as she was crying she stopped inside the memorial tomb. JN20:12 She saw two angels in white garments 1057 sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been. 1058

1057

She saw two angels in white garments: It is interesting that this did not happen to the two apostles shortly before. There must be an important lesson here. [Compare Mark 16:5] Women were the first true witnesses to the resurrection of Christ. The testimony of women was rejected by the Jews in legal matters. The fact the Gospels present women as the first witnesses lends a strong element of truth to the events, as it would be the normal practice to omit these by later writers and editors.

1058	Where the body of Jesus had been: The Empty Tomb still demands an answer and a reaction. The theory that the disciples stole the body in the night is the only one put forth by the Jews. [See notes on Matthew 27:62-66; 28:11-15]

JN20:13 Now [they] said to her: “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them: “They have carried off my Master and I have no idea where they put him!” JN20:14 Having said these things, Mary turned around and she saw Jesus standing there, 1059 and not realizing that it was Jesus. 1060

1059	Mary turned around and she saw Jesus standing there: The first experience of the Risen Master.

1060	Not realizing that it was Jesus: This happens several times when the disciples do not recognize Jesus. [Luke 24:16, 31; John 21:4] This would seem to confirm that Jesus has risen in “another form.” [Mark 16:12 KJV]

JN20:15 Jesus said to her: “Woman, why are you weeping? 1061 Whom do you seek?” Thinking that the person was the gardener, 1062 she asked him: “Sir, if you have removed him, tell me where you put him, and I shall take him away!”

1061	Woman, why are you weeping: The first words heard from the Risen Master.

1062	Thinking that the person was the gardener: This woman has followed the Nazarene from early days, perhaps over three years, and she does not recognize Jesus, thinking he is just the gardener. [Luke 8:1-3] Clearly he has materialized in a different form.

JN20:16 Jesus said to her: “Mary!” 1063 Then turning, Mary said to him in Hebrew: “Rabboni!” 1064 (meaning, Teacher)

1063

Mary: Though his appearance has changed, his voice and manner have not. He is really the “same Jesus” she knew before. [Acts 1:11] We can only imagine the force in this simple, but familiar address. It is one of the two cases in the Gospels of Jesus addressing a woman directly by her name. [Luke 10:41, 42]

1064	Rabboni: The address is a more intimate and familiar form than “Rabbi.”

JN20:17 Jesus said to her: “Do not cling to me! 1065 For I have not yet ascended toward the Father. Go to my disciples and tell them, ‘I am ascending toward my Father and your Father, and my God and your God’.” 1066

1065

Do not cling to me: Or, KJV: touch me not; RHM: be not detaining me; TCN: do not hold me. Others render this: do not continue to cling [Donaldson]. There are a variety of views but the simplest one is that Mary thought he might vanish so clung to him to not let him go. We can feel the depth of her emotions as tears shower her face and she embraces Jesus with a grasp beyond her strength.

1066

My God and your God: Jesus acknowledges that his Father is his God whom he worships and serves. Almost two dozen times the Bible recognizes that Jesus had a God. Compare notes on Ephesians 1:3, 17 and Revelation 3:12. The Messiah was foretold to acknowledge Yehowah and his God. [Psalm 22:1 and Psalm 89:26] Compare notes also on John 20:28.

JN20:18 Mary Magdalene arrived, bringing news to the disciples: “I have seen the Master,” 1067 and that he said these things to her.

1067	I have seen the Master: Compare 1 Corinthians 9:1.

John 20:19-23 – “Receive Holy Pneuma”

JN20:19 Now in evening of that day, the first of the week, the disciples were behind locked doors out of fear of the Jews. 1068 Jesus came and stood among them, 1069 saying: “Peace to you!”

1068

The disciples were behind locked doors out of fear of the Jews: All the Gospels confess with inspired candor that all of the apostles were fearful and cowardly before the resurrection of Christ. This same group became fearless – a complete about face – and openly preached Christ as if new men. What would have caused them such fearless conviction, in contrast to their former attitude? The eyewitness evidence of their Risen Master.

1069	Jesus came and stood among them: Obviously appearing out of nowhere, through the walls. [Luke 24:36, 37]

JN20:20 And, having said this, Jesus showed to them his hands and also his side. 1070 At seeing the Master they rejoiced.

1070

Jesus showed to them his hands and also his side: In Luke’s account the feet are mentioned. [Luke 24:39; Psalm 22:16 LXX] Jesus has materialized in “another form” [Mark 16:12], one that duplicated the wounds in his body. Others do not see this. [Luke 24:15-35] Even the apostles who are to see him days later do not recognize a different form. [John 21:1]

JN20:21 So, Jesus said again to them, “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me forth, I am also sending you [apostles].” 1071

1071	I am also sending you [apostles]: On another occasion the Risen Lord commissions his apostles in the manner recorded by Matthew 28:19.

JN20:22 And having said this, Jesus took a deep breath, 1072 and then said to them: “You [apostles], receive holy Pneuma! 1073

1072	Jesus took a deep breath: Or, KJV: he breathed on them; RHM: he breathed strongly. The Greek is ENEPHYSESEN, “he blew in.” It is possible he drew a deep breath and then said the following in a single action.

1073

Receive holy Pneuma: Or, KJV: receive ye the Holy Ghost; RSV: receive ye the Holy Spirit. The word PNEUMA [feminine] means literally breath, and then wind. Both of these are invisible forces which may exert pressure. This action of the Risen Master was something of a foretaste, for the apostles who were not to actually receive the holy Pneuma until Pentecost. [Acts 1:4, 5] On details regarding the holy Pneuma, or holy spirit, see notes on 1 Corinthians 2:16 and others in Error of the Trinity.

JN20:23 For a certainty should you [apostles] forgive others their sins, 1074 their sins have been forgiven. 1075 For a certainty, if you [apostles] do withhold such forgiveness, they retain their sins.” 1076

1074	Should you [apostles] forgive others their sins: Or, remit, retain. The Risen Master has authorized his apostles to forgive sins, just as he was authorized by his Father. Jesus has suggested the same earlier to Peter. [Matthew 16:19]

1075	Their sins have been forgiven: Or, remitted, retained.

1076	Withhold such forgiveness, they retain their sins: Or, retain, pronounce unforgiven, remain bound, fastened. An example of this is the Christian couple Ananias and Sapphira. [Acts 5:1-11]

John 20:24-25 – “Unless I See I Will Not Believe”

JN20:24 However, one of the Twelve, 1077 Thomas (called Didymus [the Twin]), was not with them when Jesus came.

1077	Twelve: A group designation, though at the moment there are only eleven. Compare also 1 Corinthians 15:5.

JN20:25 So, the other disciples told him: “We have seen the Master!” But, Thomas, said to them: “Unless I see the print of the nails in his hands, and unless I stick my finger into the print of the nails, and stick my hand into his side – I will never believe!” 1078

1078	I will never believe: Thus, the name “Doubting Thomas.”

John 20:26-29 – “Blessed Those Who Do Not See”

JN20:26 Now after eight days the disciple were again inside, and Thomas was also with them. Jesus arrived though the doors had been locked. And he stood among them and said: “Peace to you!” JN20:27 Then, he said to Thomas: “Place your finger here, 1079 and see my hands! Take your hand and stick it into my side. Stop your disbelief, and continue to believe!”

1079	Place your finger here: For the benefit of Thomas, Jesus appears again in “another form” of his impaled body. It is the good doctor Luke who makes sure we know his feet were also pierced. [Luke 24:39]

JN20:28 Thomas responded and said: “My Master and The God!” 1080

1080

My Master and The God: Or, My Lord and my God. Much is made of this exclamation by Doubting Thomas as though his words have some inspired credentials. There are several views: a] it is an exclamation in which Thomas refers to God; b] Thomas addresses Messiah with legitimate designations – lord (master), god. [Isaiah 9:6]; c] or, he refers to the Master Jesus and to The God of Jesus, the Father. The other apostles have received the previous message through Mary Magdalene: “I have not yet ascended to… my God and your God.” If Thomas addresses Jesus as god of a sort – that is with qualifications [as in John 1:1] – then there are clearly two Gods – Christ, and then his own God, the Father. For more details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000© Error of the Trinity on John 20:28. [John 1:18]

JN20:29 Jesus said to Thomas: “You believe because you have seen me? Blessed those who have not seen me, and yet believe!” 1081

1081	Blessed those who have not seen me, and yet believe: More blessed than Thomas who had to see in order to believe. Compare 2 Corinthians 5:7 and 1 Peter 1:8. The Nazarene had referred to future believers in his prayer at John 17:20.

John 20:30-31 – Why These Were Written

JN20:30 Surely, Jesus did many things other than the signs he did in the view of his disciples – things not written in this Bible. 1082

1082	Things not written in this Bible: Or, book, scroll. The Greek is BIBLIO from the place where ancient papyrus scrolls were made, Byblos. Compare John 21:25.

JN20:31 However, these have been written so that all of you [readers] may believe 1083 that Jesus is the Christ, 1084 the Son of The God. 1085 And, because of believing, you [readers] may have Life because of his name. 1086

1083	These have been written so that all of you [readers] may believe: The Greek is the plural “you” and suggests his readers.

1084	Jesus is the Christ: John lists two factors to this belief as the reason he wrote the Gospel. The first is that Jesus the Nazarene is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed. This is drawn mainly from Psalm 2:1, Isaiah 61:1, and Daniel 9:25, 26.

1085

The Son of The God: The second point of conviction is that Jesus is more than the Messiah; he is also the Son of God. This is based on the prophecies of Psalm 2:6, 7 and Psalm 89:26. Had John’s entire presentation been for the purpose of declaring Jesus God he has full opportunity here to state it simply – “these things have been written so that you will believe Jesus is God Himself.”

1086	You [readers] may have Life because of his name: John has in mind a specific kind of life, the same Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4. Note the use of the word “life” in 1 John.

Review Questions on Chapter Twenty